Implant-Support Dentures

Living with missing teeth can affect more than just your smile. It can make it harder to eat your favorite foods, speak clearly, and feel confident in daily life. If you are missing all or most of your teeth and like the idea of the ease of dentures combined with the natural look and feel of dental implants, then implant-supported dentures might be the right tooth-replacement option for you.

At Oakwood Dental in Bucyrus, Ohio, we offer advanced tooth replacement solutions designed to improve both function and long-term oral health. Dr. Attila Nagy, Dr. Michelle Nagy, and our team work closely with patients to create personalized treatment plans using modern options like implant dentures.

What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

To understand how implant dentures work, it helps to compare them to traditional dentures and conventional dentures. While both options replace missing teeth, they function very differently.

While traditional dentures are designed to hug and suction onto a patient’s gums, implant-supported dentures are dentures that are fastened to a number of strategically placed dental implants.

These dental implants act like artificial tooth roots. They are placed into the jawbone and help support the denture, creating a more stable and secure fit. This approach can help support jawbone health and reduce the risk of bone loss that often occurs after tooth loss.

The Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant-supported dentures offer many benefits beyond what traditional dentures can provide. They offer a far superior solution to traditional dentures because they look natural and feel and function like regular teeth.

Additionally, implant-supported dentures never slip, slide, or shift around inside the mouth. They require no sticky denture adhesive, and they never rub or cause sores inside the mouth as ill-fitting traditional dentures can.

Also, they offer a much simpler solution to replacing all or the majority of a person’s teeth but without the need to place nearly as many dental implants. As a result, implant-supported dentures are usually the preferred option when compared to replacing many teeth, rather than a one-for-one tooth replacement with dental implants.

Beyond these core benefits, implant dentures also support long-term improvements in comfort and daily life:

• Improved Stability: Provides a secure fit that stays in place during eating and speaking
• Supports Jawbone Health: Helps reduce bone loss by stimulating the jawbone like natural tooth roots
• Comfortable Fit: Designed to feel more like natural teeth compared to regular dentures
• Restores Function: Makes it easier to chew and enjoy a wider variety of foods
• Improves Quality Of Life: Helps patients feel more confident in social situations

Many patients experience improved function and comfort with this tooth replacement option. However, results depend on individual needs, bone structure, and how closely patients follow their treatment plan.

Your Options in Implant-Supported Dentures

If you are considering implant-supported dentures, you’ll find that several different options are available, and these can be customized to meet your individual needs and treatment preferences. Choosing the right type of denture depends on your oral health, jawbone density, and personal preferences.

Full or Partial

Implant-supported dentures are available in both full and partial styles. Full dentures are intended to replace all of a patient’s missing teeth (or an entire row of missing teeth), and partial dentures are designed to replace the missing teeth of a patient who still has some natural teeth remaining.

A full arch restoration is often recommended for patients who have experienced significant tooth loss and want a more stable alternative to conventional dentures.

Permanent or Removable

Implant-supported dentures can be either permanent or removable. Permanent dentures are cemented to the abutments of the dental implant anchors, while removable dentures are designed to snap on and off of the dental implants. These removable styles are often called snap-on dentures or overdentures.

Both options offer a more secure alternative to traditional denture wearers who may struggle with slipping or discomfort.

What To Expect When Getting Implant-Supported Dentures

The process of getting implant-supported dentures is completed in stages to ensure long-term success and a comfortable fit.

When getting implant-supported dentures, the first step is to schedule a consultation and evaluation. During this appointment, one of our dentists performs a dental examination and also evaluates digital X-rays of your maxillofacial structures to devise the best treatment plan.

We then enter a preparation process that might entail extracting remaining teeth and/or a bone grafting procedure to ensure your jawbone is strong enough to support the dental implants you will receive.

Once healed from the extraction and bone grafting, we can schedule an appointment for implant placement. A period of healing follows implant placement, and at this time, your jawbone undergoes an osseointegration process with the dental implant anchors.

Once healed, we can fit the anchors with abutments designed to attach to your permanent denture or overdenture. A brief healing period might be required after abutments are placed, depending on how your gum tissue healed around the anchors.

Once the gum tissue has recovered, your denture can finally be placed.

This process involves careful planning and may include oral surgery depending on your specific situation.

Who May Be A Candidate For Implant Dentures

Not every patient is the same, and several factors determine whether implant dentures are the right choice.

• Adequate Bone Density: Sufficient bone structure is needed to support dental implants
• Good Oral Health: Healthy gums help support long-term success
• Stable Health Conditions: Certain medical conditions may affect healing
• Commitment To Care: Proper care and follow-up visits are important

During your consultation, we review your bone condition, oral health, and goals to help you make an informed decision.

Caring For Implant-Supported Dentures

Taking care of your implant dentures helps protect your investment and maintain your oral health.

• Daily Care: Clean your dentures and implants regularly to prevent buildup
• Good Oral Hygiene: Helps protect gums and surrounding structures
• Routine Visits: Allows our team to monitor your dental implants and overall oral health
• Avoid Excessive Force: Reduces wear on your replacement teeth
• Follow Instructions: Supports long-term success and comfort

With proper care, implant dentures can provide a long-term solution for missing teeth.